Writing Instruction Flashcards
Connotation
the implied meaning of a word; the feeling a word conveys
Describing a person as “shrewd” may make them feel negatively, even though the definition (sharp-witted, intelligent) is positive.
Denotative Meaning
a literal, dictionary meaning of a word
Metacognition
the ability to think about one’s own thought process
Author’s Purpose
The author’s intention for writing. Could be persuasive, narrative, expository, or informative. Organization and style choices should reflect the purpose for writing.
Argumentative Writing
writing meant to persuade the reader to agree with the conclusions of the author
Transition Words
Phrases and words used to link sentences, paragraphs, and ideas together. ex- First, next, last, on the other hand
Thesis Statement
a statement included in the introduction of a paper which makes a specific claim and provides a preview as to what will follow in the paper. ex- A science student writes the following thesis statement in response to the question, “Is global warming a problem?” “Environmentalists agree that global climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.”
Irony
an incongruity between what the reader expects the author to mean and what they actually mean
Writing Process
The steps a writer goes through to compose a finished, polished text. ex- Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
Symbolism
When an item stands for an idea or larger meaning. Usually used throughout a piece of literature. ex- dove = peace, red rose = love and romance
Writing Feedback
comments and assessments given to students to improve their writing
Semicolon
a punctuation mark indicating a a more pronounced pause than the one indicated by a comma, and that joins two clauses. ex- I’m going home; it’s just too late.
Voice (Writing)
the unique outlook and expressed personality of an author. ex- Hemingway had a macho sensibility that infused his writing voice.
Hypotheses
an assumption made to verify itself. ex- Drinking soda makes you fat. (An experiment would then follow to prove or disprove the idea.)
Chronological Order
An organizational approach that follows an orderly progression of events based in time.
Colon
a punctuation mark placed before a list of items, a quotation, expansion, or explanation. ex- I’ve been to every town in Pennsylania: Piitsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Scranton, Lancaster.
Exit Slips
A short formative assessment given by a teacher after completing a lesson to determine the degree to which students have learned the material taught in the lesson.
Cause and Effect
a writing method in which the author explains reasons why something happened or the effects of something that has happened. ex- A politician’s speech in which all of the bad actions of an opponent are listed to argue that the politician should be elected instead.
Clarity / Word Choice
Use of vocabulary or other organizational choices to ensure the intended meaning comes through.
Recursive
repeated application of a process, such as writing
Verbal Irony
contrast between what is said and what is meant
Audience
The intended recipient of a written or verbal communication. ex- When writing lesson plans, your students are your audience. A student writing a research presentation would have both his classmates and the teacher as an audience
Satire
the use of humor or exaggeration to critique human nature or a character
Dramatic Irony
When the audience/reader knows something the character does not. ex- When the audience sees the Road Runner paint a hole in the side of a cliff, but Wile E Coyote continues to run ahead at full speed towards the “hole.”
Rubric
A scoring guide based on several criteria rather than a single numerical score
Recurring Theme
the repetition of a theme/image throughout the story to symbolize meaning.
Foreshadowing
the narrator or character hints at a future plot point
Situational Irony
discrepancy between what happens and what the reader expects to happen
Mentor Text
Books or other pieces of literature that are revisited throughout the school year for different purposes in literacy instruction. ex- Due to its unique narrative and abundance of figurative language, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen is a popular mentor text to use in a language arts classroom.
Blog
A website where writers post entries and readers can make comments
Portfolio
A collection of student’s work and achievements that is used to assess past accomplishments and future potential; can include finished work in a variety of media and can contain materials from several courses over time
Analogies
are used to compare two things that are usually thought of as different but have something in common. ex- hand is to glove as foot is to sock
Organizational Structure
Text structure can include cause/effect, problem/solution, main idea/details, and/or sequence
Students often find problem/solution text structure as more interesting.
Explicit Teaching
the process of teaching by communicating clear expectations and giving specific feedback to students
Descriptive Writing
Used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things. Descriptive writing is also develops the mood and atmosphere of the text.
Compare and Contrast
An organizational approach where the author provides similarities and differences about two ideas
Style (Writing)
the technical preferences of an author’s writing. ex- Hemingway wrote prose in short sentences that distinguished his writing style.
Writing Conventions
The basic rules of written language, including grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
proper grammar
Precise (Writing)
in writing, a sentence that contains specific details and avoids wordy descriptions. ex- turquoise instead of light bluish green
Understatement
when the author minimizes a significant point for effect
Concise (Writing)
in writing, a sentence that is brief but still contains all necessary information
